NIGERIA’S foremost training outfit, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has commenced the training of 11,000 Nigerian youths across the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by ITF’s Head of Public Affairs, Suleyol Fred Chagu, a copy of which was made available to SUNDAY STANDARD in Jos, saying that the training commenced on Monday, September 18th, 2017 under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NSIDP).
According to the statement, the training was part of the continued efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari to create jobs for unemployed youths in the country.
The statement added that the training followed the second phase of :he 2016 NISDP which trained 10,000 youths from 18 states.
“Under this phase, 300 youths each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be equipped with the requisite skills in tailoring and fashion designing, plumbing and pipe fitting and welding and fabrication”, it added.
The statement further disclosed that the trainees were turning up for the programme in all the 3,700 centres designated for the programme.
It said “in order for the trainees to realize their potentials and ‘“dreams, supporting equipment in the trade areas will be provided to all trainees as starter packs. This is to serve as empowerment to all participants of the programme to set up on their own and boost the entrepreneurial sector of the country.”
ITF therefore urges the selected trainees to utilise the opportunity of the training by displaying high level of commitment throughout the training to achieve the intended result.
The NISDP, according to the statement was a hard skills component of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and has equipped over 100,000 Nigerians with skills for employ-ability and entrepreneurship.

Justice Yakubu Gyang Dakwak was today sworn in by Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State as the acting chief judge of the State.

Justice Yakubu Gyang Dakwak hails from Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State and succeeds Justice Pius Damulak.

The inauguration of the new acting Chief judge took place at the presidential lodge, old Government house Rayfield, Jos.

Read Below the full text of Governor Simon Lalong’s Speech at the occasion

ADDRESS OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, RT. HON. SIMON BAKO LALONG, AT THE VALEDICTORY SESSION IN HONOUR OF RETIRING CHIEF JUDGE, JUSTICE PIUS DAMULAK CON, ON FRIDAY, THE 22ND OF SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT THE HIGH COURT PREMISES, JOS

PROTOCOL

Today’s Valedictory Session brings to mind, the self prodding question that should occupy the mind of every human being, as we live in spiritual and physical consciousness of how our time here on earth is spent. “How will I be remembered?” This should be the primary concern of everyone who lives with the understanding that to everything in life there is a beginning and an end.

Dr. Horatius Bonar of Edingburg (1870) set the words of the Song “Fading away like the stars of the morning” which Ira D. Sankey set to music in the Sacred Songs and Solos in 1891. I find one of the stanzas and chorus apt to represent here;

“Only the truth that in life we have spoken,

Only the seed that on earth we have sown;

These shall pass onward when we are forgotten;

Fruits of the harvest and what we have done”.

Only remembered, only remembered;

Only remembered by what we have done;

Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,

Only remembered by what we have done.

Today we are not only celebrating our retiring Chief Judge, My Lord Justice Pius Damulak KSS CON, but we are remembering his contribution to life beyond Legal Jurisprudence. One eulogy after another, we are reminded of the hard work, dedication, commitment and sacrifices in the sleepless night and family life that were spent in research, comparative study of Judgment, the sophisticated isolation of facts and putting them against points of law to make a sound Judgment which Justifies the place of the Courts as the Temple of Justice and the place of hope for the common man.

Today we celebrate and remember the Service of a man who has contributed his quota beyond words, in ensuring that all through his service as a Legal Practitioner, Judge and Head of the Judiciary, the process of Justice delivery does not fall foul of the law; and that a profession he has lived for all his life, is not in any way made an object of public ridicule in the face of growing corruption and loss of societal values.

To achieve this, personal conviction, integrity, honour, discipline, professionalism and the fear of God, must have gone into the hours, days, weeks, months and years of service in the Bar and on the Bench.

Like I said on the 4th of June 2017, during the valedictory session in honour of retired Judges of the Plateau State Judiciary, my presence at this valedictory session is an open attestation of the deep appreciation of Plateau State for the years of sacrifice services that have been put in Judicial Service on the Bench to enrich jurisprudence and by extension help in entrenching a robust Democracy in Plateau State and Nigeria in general.

My Lord, Chief Judge, through your service from the Bar to the Bench, you will be remembered like the words of the song, for the seed that on earth you have sown and for the fruits of the harvest, that generations yet unborn will continue to reap.

The Sound Judgments, the practice direction you have given, the mentoring, the benevolence, the smile you put on the faces of litigants, the peace you have brokered, and all the value addition that you have made in the administration of the State Judiciary, have carved a niche for you in the annals of history and you have now been engraved unto the plague of Judicial Honour; You are not only finishing well, but finishing strong with a record that is worthy of emulation by posterity.

For all these, on behalf of myself; a humble Practitioner also in the Temple of Justice, my family, the Government and good people of Plateau State, I convey sincere gratitude and I assure you that our State remains eternally indebted to you and your family.

I will not forget to thank your wife, children and entire family for their part in this journey that has expended the time, affection, companionship and attention meant for them. They are the ones who we are truly celebrating today, and on behalf of the State, we covet God’s abundant blessings for them. Now they can have what is left of this man who they gave to us for the last four decades, it is my prayer that the value of what is left will keep you thanking God, that he has returned to you fully; for like the saying goes, “it is better late than never”.

Let me at this point give assurances to my Lord the retiring Chief Judge, that all you have longed to see in the State, which will guarantee efficient and effective Justice delivery will be done by our Administration. You have seen how far we have gone with our commitment and you know how much we are willing to do. Please rest convinced that we shall not relent, because while in retirement, your advisory access to power which you have earned as an elder Statesman, will keep us under your interested watch.

On a final note, let me leave you with the retirement blessing of Barbara D. MacAdam, the American Art Poet and Executive Editor of the New York Art News;

You started on this Journey, so many years ago,

And now its time to leave behind dear friends

you’ve come to know.

You sought Divine direction and a heart to

do His will. Your work became your passion,

as you used your gift and skills.

You set the highest standards for yourself

and others too, showing honour, pride and

dignity – they saw the best in you

A “rags to riches” story need not be your bottom line.

The priceless thing we gain in life, often

comes from the Divine.

So don’t waste one more minute wishing

for things that might have been, rather watch

the seeds you’ve planted grow, and feel His

peace within.

I pray God keeps you safe and well, wherever

you may turn, surrounded by your loved ones,

Living out the dreams you’ve earned.

And in the quiet of your heart,

May you hear God softly say…

“My good and faithful servant,

I am so proud of you this day.

Once more, I thank you for your meritorious tenure on the Bench, and may the Lord Almighty, who is the faithful rewarder of every service, bless you and keep you blissful in Retirement.

To commemorate the 2017 international World Peace Day, Legislators from the Plateau State House of Assembly were in Bauchi from the 20th – 21st Sept for a training on UNSCR 1325, Plateau State and Local Action Plans on UNSCR 1325, Passage of Gender Equality laws, Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation.

In her welcome address, the Perm Sec, Plateau state ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Ayika Hassana said she was delighted to have all the political class of Plateau gathered to discuss Women, Peace and Security issues. “This training is timely as it is coming at a time when the nation is plagued by my myriads of security challenges” she stated.

The Gender Technical Adviser Plateau on the WPS, Programme of UN Women presented the overview of the WPS Programme, the successes and challenges the programme has recorded and has been faced with. Mr Udoh Ubon, Dr Erisa & Barr Izam took the legislators through the various sessions.

At the end of the day the legislators committed to engaging women in decision making and ensuring womens rights are due them.

Various goodwill messages by relevant stakeholders of repute all in one place all shows the importance the state places on peace and security.

The goodwill messages came from Hon Rufina Gurumyen, Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Saleh Yipmong, the Dep Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Alice Dimlong, House Committee Chair on Women Affairs and Hon Henry Yunkwap, the Majority leader.

The training ended with a word of prayer from the Minority leader of the Plateau House of Assembly.

To mark the World Peace Day, the Nigeria Peace Corps Plateau State Command, on Thursday walk around the city of Jos with placards with inscriptions calling for harmonious living between the various communities in the State.

The walk tagged “WakaForPeace”, is aimed at addressing the recent reprisal attack by the Hausa community in Jos against the Igbo tribe as a result of the on going agitation for secession in the Southeast.

Speaking to newsmen, the State Commandant, Plateau Peace Crops, Patriot Sunday Joseph, said that Nigerians should resolve to live in peace irrespective of the geographic location where they found themselves.

The Commandant blamed the current face off in Jos and Bukuru areas in Plateau as a result of the fake information circulating on the social media.

He said that mischief makers should not plunge the country into unnecessary crisis calling on government to put mechanism in place to regulate the activities on the social media.

Joseph noted that the calls for the reign of peace in Plateau has come at no better time than now, saying that, “the Plateau peace walk project is our own way of adding our voice to preaching peace in Nigeria and particularly, in Jos and Bukuru area.

“We all know that today marks the International Peace Day all over the world and we use the same opportunity to call for peace in the state and Nigeria at large”.

The Commandant added, “may we all embrace peace and unity to enable us to fight recession in Nigeria; we also want to use the medium to encourage the government of the day to embrace dialogue in her quest to bringing peace to the country”.

He said in the future, the Peace Walk will also features a freedom concert that will parade top talents and entertainers from the Plateau.

Our correspondent reports that the International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day which holds across the world today was brought into being by United Nations Resolutions in 1981 and 2001 and each year, hundreds of students take part in a student observance of Peace Day at the United Nations which includes Messengers of Peace.

The Director General Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joe Lengs has called on the public to work with government and synergize in order to deepen peace on the Plateau.

He made the call during a brainstorming session with social and new media influencers in Plateau on the issues of peace in the state.

The DG said, “We are learning to be proactive instead of reactive. Our doors are always opened, rebuke us, give us advice and we will act on the solutions you share with us. We need to nurture the peace on the Plateau”.

While speaking further, Mr. Lengs stressed that their mandate is to change lives and behaviours in a way that transcends religious and political differences.

“We are talking about our common heritage as a people so, we need to view life from a full perspective as individuals. We want to bequeath a stable and peaceful our children” he added.

During the interactive session different individuals made suggestions bordering on issues that have constantly triggered violence and conflicts within the state. Solutions were also proffered by participants on the way forward.

Some of the suggestions made by the social media influencers include; the need for continues orientation and reorientation, shunning of malicious statements on social media, having a sense of responsibility, being patriotic for our common heritage over all differences, government should address issues of injustice to deter others from wrong doing, government should continuously engage the society on peace and peaceful coexistence among others.

DIRECTORATE OF PRESS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, PLATEAU STATE

PRESS RELEASE

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong having considered further the steady improvement in the state of security within the Greater Jos-Bukuru metropolis since the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew, on thursday the 14th of september 2017 , and its subsequent relaxation on Sunday the 17th September, 2017 has approved a further relaxation of the Curfew from 12 midnight daily to 6am of the subsequent day， with effect from thursday 21st september 2017, until further notice.

The Executive Governor wishes to commend all law abiding citizens and stake holders in the peace process on the plateau, for making the quick restoration of peace and security a success. He further calls on all communities to sustain vigilance and intensify community policing to forestall any situation that is likely to upset the hard earned peace in the state.
Meanwhile the Governor has restated and reaffirmed the commitment of all Security operatives to ensure law and order always, in areas of concern within the metropolis that are currently being intensively patrolled and policed, to guarantee the safety and rights of all citizens to go about their businesses without let or hinderance.